Would-be Valpo tattoo store owner charged with burglaries
By Erin Guerra Post-Tribune correspondent January 23, 2012 1:18PM
John Tener. | Provided Photo~Sun-Times Media ptmet
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Updated: February 25, 2012 8:17AM
VALPARAISO — Tens of thousands of dollars worth of watches, musical instruments and other stolen property was found at a tattoo business a suspect was attempting to open.
While investigating a rash of burglaries and attempted burglaries at businesses throughout Valparaiso since early December, police learned of a similar burglary at a Portage jewelry store. In that incident, the store’s camera caught an image of one of the culprits without a mask, and a camera at a neighboring business photographed a possible suspect vehicle, police said.
Police said they showed the photograph to employees of Ameripawn in Valparaiso, which was burglarized twice during this time period, and they recognized the person as a previous customer. He eventually was identified as John Tener, 47, of Valparaiso.
When interviewed by Valparaiso Police detectives Lt. John Ross and Sgt. Jeff Balon, Tener reportedly admitted to committing or attempting to commit eight burglaries in Valparaiso and one in Portage. Tener was arrested on two counts of Class C felony burglary. Tener was arrested at 4:20 p.m. Friday
Additional charges and arrests are likely, police said.
Police recovered a number of the stolen items, much of which were inside a business Tener was attempting to open at 1608 Lincolnway, near Valparaiso University.
Police said they have linked Tener to burglaries at Ameripawn, Culture Shock Tattoo, Sacred Chao Tattoos, Quinlan & Fabish Music Co. and Discoteca Merlia; and attempted burglaries at Orthodontics Inc. and Pediatric Dentistry.
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